Activation Reports

9.2-miles, +3,385 ft, -2,531 ft; From Elk Mountain TH

1.4-miles, +1,040 ft,-260 ft; From Grave Meadow Camp

I activated Indian Peak from a camp in Grave Meadow on Day-2 of a 15-day backpacking trip.

It is a relatively long drive to the trailhead on good Forest Service Roads.  Most vehicles should be able to make it with no troubles, but some clearance is helpful.  I climbed this summit from a camp at Grave Meadow.  I was not able to find any information regarding who is buried in the grave, which is demarked by a loose pile of rocks.

Shingle Mountain summit is a 5-mile out and back hike located Northeast of Dog Mountain and Augspurger Mountain north of the Columbia River accessed from a national forest road just before reaching the Moss Creek Campground. I marked both “Easy Trail” and “Treacherous Trial” above because like many SOTA summits, you get both on this one. You are rewarded at the top with a very pleasant activation area with a clearing at the summit and a view south.

1.6-miles, +821 ft, -160 ft

The Devils Tower hike is a beautiful one that climbs a series of benches through open range and timber. It is nicest in the spring, before it gets too hot. The summit offers panoramic views of the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness, the Helena Valley, and the surrounding mountains.

I was tipped-off by K7DJL that Salmo was nearly a drive-up summit not too far from our planned camp on Priest Lake. Turned out that it was a fun scenic drive through cedar and hemlock forest and over a couple of mountain passes. The summit looks into Canada so we decided to spend the night in the saddle between the 1960s era US Forest Service Lookout and the actual summit.

5.1-miles, +1,705 ft, -963 ft; From Elk Mountain TH

I activated Bilk Mountain on Day-1 of a long backpacking trip.

It is a relatively long drive to the trailhead on good Forest Service Roads.  Most vehicles should be able to make it with no troubles, but some clearance is helpful.  This summit combines nicely with W7I/IC-172 (Green Mountain), which is a drive-up.

1.5-miles, +920 ft

Elk Mountain has a notable 2,166 feet of prominence and a pleasant trail to near the summit.

It is a relatively long drive to the trailhead on good Forest Service Roads.  Most vehicles should be able to make it with no troubles, but some clearance is helpful.  This summit combines nicely with W7I/IC-172 (Green Mountain), which is a drive-up.

18.7-miles, +5,750 ft; -1,590 ft; From N. Fork Trailhead

Evans Peak is an iconic mountain that is the 4th highest peak in Lewis and Clark County.  I activated it as the fifth summit on a multi-day backpacking trip that went up Lake Creek, down Canyon Creek, up the Dry Fork & Cabin Creek, and then down Dobrota Creek and the North Fork of the Blackfoot back to the car.  This route description is the reverse of the final leg, which is the most efficient approach.

15.9-miles, +4,320 ft; -1,060 ft; From N. Fork Trailhead via Dry Fork

I activated this as the third summit on a multi-day backpacking trip.  We camped at the mouth of Dwight Creek and climbed from there.

15.7-miles, +3,230 ft; -1,100 ft; From N. Fork Trailhead via Dry Fork

I activated this as the second summit on a multi-day backpacking trip.  We camped at the mouth of Dwight Creek and climbed from there, but it is also possible to camp in the area of the Dry Fork – Flathead Divide.

19.7-miles, +4,848 ft; -1,158 ft; From N. Fork Trailhead via Dry Fork

I activated this as the fourth summit on a multi-day backpacking trip.  We camped at the mouth of Dwight Creek and climbed from there, from which the summit is a 6.5 mile on-trail hike with 3,200 feet of net elevation gain.